Thread: Optimum Flow Quiet Exhaust

On this forum we commonly are asked about how to make the 3800 sound nice. The usual answer is that the exhaust alone cannot achieve this as a cam or turbo is needed. Then there is the guy who keeps confusing the term "nice" with "loud." Since the sound is doomed, the best bet would be to lower the volume. Flow would still be an area of interest as this would be for performance as well. This brings me to main question.

What would be the best flowing and quietest exhaust for our cars and why?

More emphasis on the why as I would like to learn about the science behind it.

I got the dynomax super turbo cat back exhaust, and I think it has a good sound(not too loud not too quiet). It may be different for more heavily modded cars, but with the basic stuff I got(downpipe,Plog,intake) it's sounds pretty good. I don't know too much about the science behind it , I just know it works for my preference.

First of all if you want quiet then stock is literally the only option. Im going to catch hell for this but.... The best exhaust I have ever heard on a stock cam 3800 was speed daddy headers and a full 3" zzp exhaust with zzp resonator and zzp mufflers. Nice deep and throaty sound. When you are driving nicely it is very reasonable from a volume standpoint and when you floor it it gets loud but not "That guy is a dickbag" loud. No rasp at all.

Here is a video of it. The camera was **** so it didn't pick up the nice pleasant low rumble at idle and the low roar when revved. You can feel it in your chest when your behind the car. Gets compliments all the time. Gives you a good idea though.

the borla exhaust sounds great, even at WOT till it starts to make the WOOOOoooooo sound.

it was almost quiet as stock.

restrictive as hell, boost dropped over 3psi and ran lean as **** just unbolting the DP on the dyno.

oem exhaust is just as restrictive.

good luck finding a quiet exhaust without restriction or a really expensive active noise cancellation system

Mine is pretty quiet... dynomax super turbo catback with two resonators

Headers, cat, resonator (not a crappy glasspack), Dynomax VT mufflers, and 3" from headers to the tips. That should be drone free, and free flowing.